In the mid-16th century, a group of Native Americans called the Invaders moved up to the Pee Dee River basin to settle. This group displaced the already settled population of Siouan tribes and proceeded to construct villages with dome-shaped houses protected by stockades. The ceremonial center, near Mount Gilead, was also stockade and within its walls ceremonies, burials of nobles, ball games, and execution of enemies all took place.

Conrad Reed is credited with finding the state's first trace of gold in 1799 on his father's farm in Cabarrus County. Amateur endeavors to retrieve gold persisted until 1854, when a professional miner from Mexico's silver mines and streamlined the operation. The last underground mining operation ended in 1911 and since any interest has continued with minor panning operations.